Help, I entered an obstacle run and I hate running

August 18, 2013 3:33 AM

So I entered this mud race this morning, kind of on a whim after a friend told me she entered. I was going to do the 12k with friends, but it was full, so I'm doing the 6k by myself. I'm really concerned about the running part because I hate running with a venomous passion.

My strength is pretty good - I'm still doing CrossFit* 3-4 times a week and I'm snatching around 30-35kg for 5s, deadlifting 75-80 for 5s, and I've graduated to the black band for kipping pullups - but my grip strength is kind of appalling and I'm notoriously scared of overhead and front squats. Despite my best foam roller and lacrosse balls efforts I still get intense DOMs after each work out, which doesn't exactly inspire me to lace up my running shoes.

I think this will be good for me to confront my hatred of running, so here is my question: how should I approach training? I have 5 weeks because I am an idiot. I've tried couch to 5k a few times but didn't find it too inspiring. Bonus points for advice on how to deal with painful DOMs and red, puffy, uncooperative knees.

* readers of my previous Ask about my gym will be disappointed to know that I'm still going to that box during the week, but I'm training elsewhere on weekends.

posted by nerdfish to Health & Fitness (8 answers total)

my only advice is that 6km is not that long, you'll probably have obstacles spread out over the distance so that at most you'll have to run 1km at a time? it's not that bad. stay at a comfortable pace and have fun.

you're fit and strong from crossfit, this translates pretty well into running without special training.
posted by sockpuppetdirect at 5:03 AM on August 18, 2013

I did a race like this with a friend who couldn't run due to a recent injury. So we just walked between obstacles. It was a lot of fun. Most people end up walking through the muddy bits anyways. So basically if you hate running that much you don't even have to run if you don't want to.
posted by emd3737 at 5:04 AM on August 18, 2013 [1 favorite]

Do you have anywhere near you with natural surface trails? They are easier on your knees and a lot of people find them more interesting to run on (the more natural the better--if you can get a little ways out of town to find some less citified parks, that'd be great). Even during the week, try to vary your running route and explore areas that you don't always travel in your normal comings-and-goings.
posted by drlith at 5:27 AM on August 18, 2013

I'm no expert but here is my advice: If you have 5 weeks, run at least 4 times a week. Do 2-3 miles at a time. On the weekend do a "long run" of 4-5 miles. There is nothing wrong with run-walk intervals. Set up your intervals with a watch or an app like RunKeeper. If you don't want to mess with that, use utility poles as markers, or songs, or mailboxes. Run one song, walk one song.

If you wanted to use a watch or timer, set up your run/walk training like this:

Week One: 1:1 interval
Week Two: 1.30:1 interval
Week Three: 2:1 interval
Week Four: 3:1 interval
Week Five: 4:1 interval or stick with 3:1 if 4 minutes of running is too much at this point.

Good luck.
posted by Fairchild at 5:57 AM on August 18, 2013

Best answer: I think couch to 5k is a little overkill anyway since you're already doing CF and have built a fitness base. I agree with sockpuppetdirect... 6K is a short enough distance that you could probably just run it without any additional training since you're already active, and these types of races are not continuous footraces anyway--you're going to be stopping to deal with the obstacles.

And one note: I'm not sure how it is in the Netherlands, but for what it's worth, these things are becoming so popular in the US that you may not be able to run all that fast even if you want to. My cousin did one of these last weekend and he said it was essentially jogging for all but the most elite folks, since the crowd was so dense that he couldn't really run.

(It sounds like you have some larger inflammation/mobility issues to deal with and I'd recommend doing some research on how to improve that and incorporate it into your programming, if your drama-filled gym doesn't do it already. He's not to everyone's taste, but Kelly Starrett's Mobility WOD stuff is the usual starting point.)
posted by Kosh at 6:10 AM on August 18, 2013 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Don't overthink this. If you're doing CF you can probably just do two weeks of 2x3mi (e.g. Tues+Fri) and get over the initial soreness of a sustained run. Although, I run 20mi/wk consistently and I STILL hate the first 3 miles of any run until the endorphins kick in. 6k isn't really much and you won't be doing it all at once, if you get to run much at all (as above).
posted by kcm at 6:52 AM on August 18, 2013 [1 favorite]

I've done a couple of these types of races and was fine, despite the fact that my usual routine is running a mile before or after I lift 4 times a week and running 3 miles or so once a week. So I'm not exactly a marathoner to put it mildly. What I suggest is doing some running outdoors on hills and steps and things and also in poor weather if you can - if you start near the back of the pack you can be running in some pretty deep mud, my friend calls the races "running with muddie undies challenges". Training on a treadmill won't really help with that.
posted by jamesonandwater at 8:48 AM on August 18, 2013

I also hate running - I did it in middle and high school and loved running track, but I loathe running as an adult. Last year I signed up for a 5K, hoping to excite myself into running again. It was a fail, and I hated it the entire way from training to finish line.

I got ready for this 5K by running twice a day, 3 -4 days a week for about two weeks, and then doing nothing for about a month until the 5K. And I don't go to the gym or do any kind of real exercise, so I bet you'll do fine.
posted by sm1tten at 10:13 AM on August 18, 2013